A method of making a hydrogel for use as carrier and/or substitute of connective tissues includes providing an aqueous solution, adding and solubilizing a first electromagnetic radiation-polymerizable water-soluble polymer a polymerization regulator agent, for regulating the polymerization of the first polymer, and applying an electromagnetic radiation to achieve polymerization of the first polymer with a predetermined viscosity and obtain a sterile hydrogel. A second radiation-polymerizable water-soluble polymer, different from the first and is non-reactive to the regulator, is added before application of the electromagnetic radiation, the amounts of regulator agent, first polymer and second polymer being selected to control the final consistency and viscosity of the sterile hydrogel. The second polymer has a degree of polymerization that varies according to the intermolecular steric hindrance of the chains of the first polymer. A hydrogel and a formulation designed for use as carrier and/or substitute of connective tissues.